A project to keep dolphins in captivity in the U.S. Virgin Islands is endangering 250 coral colonies within the proposed enclosure area. However, there is an alternative that could help preserve the coral reefs, enhance tourism, and avoid holding dolphins in captivity.
Asia for Animals calls on the government of Bali, Indonesia to prevent construction of dolphin cages offshore, which would confine wild-caught dolphins as a tourist attraction.
Asia for Animals calls on the Malaysian government to intervene on behalf of Lasah, a wild-caught elephant forced to provide rides for tourists, rehoming him to the Kuala Gandah Elephant Sanctuary.
Asia for Animals calls on the government of Sarawak, Malaysia to confiscate four sun bears kept inside a crocodile farm, to place in a sanctuary with the expertise and resources to meet their needs.
Circus animals cannot experience the freedoms they would find in nature. Instead they are abused and forced to perform unnatural stunts. I am flustered to read of His Holiness’ support for circus performers who use wild animals, and urge that he not endorse their subjugation.
The bullfight involves a ritual of prolonged, agonizing torture of bulls for entertainment. The Catholic Church needs to speak out against the bullfight partly because of the Church’s ability to exert influence in Catholic countries, and partly because the Church is complicit in this cruelty.
Traditional temple festivals in South India use elephants as part of their rituals. Thrissur Pooram, the biggest festival of all, used more than 60 elephants this year, of which 30 suffered clear animal welfare violations. There are various reasons to rethink the use of animals in such events.
The Moca Zoo in the Dominican Republic was built 32 years ago above an open septic pool. The animals are sick and continue dying with no appropriate veterinary care whatsoever. SODOPRECA is fighting to end their suffering in these squalorous conditions.
Asia for Animals calls on the Mayor of Sapporo City to revoke permission to Maruyama Zoo to import four Asian elephants from their native Myanmar to Japan. There are grave concerns regarding the impact an international relocation could have on the elephants’ welfare.
Towan was born in Woodland Park Zoo in 1968, and he remained there until he died. If you’ve visited the orangutans at the zoo in Seattle, you’ve likely seen him, and you’d probably remember him for his big, soulful, searching eyes, which were often aimed at the humans who trailed by his enclosure. I had the pleasure of seeing Towan spend many days doing two of the things he did best: creating art, and connecting with humans in a way that changed them forever.
Pope St. Pius V described bullfights as “a spectacle for demons rather than men.” As a practicing Catholic, I am saddened to say that the moral aspect of our treatment of other creatures is a part of Catholic teaching that our Catholic leaders have long neglected. Pope Francis is trying to put that right. Let’s take advantage of that and ask him to condemn bullfighting.
Asia for Animals calls on Shanghai Circus World to cancel plans for a macaque training school and phase out the use of animals in its performances, relying instead on human skill and acrobatics to build its reputation.